Using Freedmen’s Bureau Records Records in Genealogy Research

The Bureau of Refugees, Freedmen, and Abandoned Lands is often simply referred to as the Freedmen’s Bureau. Often as genealogists, we are aware of the Freedmen’s Bureau, but do not fully realize the potential it holds for our genealogy research. Let’s take a closer look.

What is the Freedmen’s Bureau?

The Freedmen’s Bureau was formed on March 3, 1865 by the War Department for the purpose of negotiating relief efforts for freed black slaves and poor whites after the Civil War. Services included providing food, housing, medical care, legal aid and even the establishment of schools and colleges.

While successful in many areas, the Freedmen’s Bureau was hampered frequently by a shortage of funds and many political conflicts. Eventually, amid political pressure Southern politicians the bureau was closed in 1872.

Types of Records to Find

The Freedmen’s Bureau created a number of types of records. I was quite surprised when I started looking into them. Note: Click through the links to find examples of each type of Freedman record.

Labor Contracts – An example can be found here for a list of labor contracts of freed persons being transported to Tennessee to work under contract for James Bond, Jr.

Register of Indentures – These were often under aged children who were orphans or whose parents were unable to provide for them. These children were apprenticed to individuals who could support them.

Reports on Outrages Against Blacks – Outrages by whites against blacks in the time after the Civil War. This example is from North Carolina. [I confess I found these disturbing to read.]

Marriages – Lists of marriages legalized by the Freedmen’s Bureau. Prior to emancipation of slaves, many marriages were “informal” in the sense that most slave marriages were not legally recognized.
Source: FamilySearch.org

School Reports – The Freemen’s Bureau started many schools for former slave children. The school reports provide interesting social history and the make-up of the schools.

Researching the Freedmen’s Bureau records presents challenges for the researcher. Not all records are indexed in the original records. Time and patience (and persistence) are required for searching these records. Persons may have changed their names. Many records are not yet available online to the researcher. Many records did not survive. Lastly, there was a lack of consistency state to state, so variation of record types exists.

Have you had success researching the Freedmen’s Bureau’s records? Share you story in the comments below or on the Facebook page!

Thanks for the helpful information!
I have been able to find my maternal 2g grandparents in Lafayette AR labor contracts from 1866 to1868. Workers were listed in family groupings, and one listed the names and ages of the young children in each family, who otherwise wouldn’t have been identified. The information helped a DNA cousin solve a mystery about the kinship of someone who looked like her mother! The terms of the contracts are heartbreakingly similar to outright slavery.
I’ve also found a contract for my maternal 3g grandparents, along with the listing of their monthly purchases, which were deducted from their meager earnings.
Reading through outrages, I’ve seen stories of fierce bravery, awful cruelty and incredible inspiration. The newly freed men and women and the Bureau agents who risked their lives to carry out the law to protect them deserve to be remembered.
These records are an amazing and painful picture of American history.

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“After both my parents died, I thought my links to my family history were lost forever. I turned to a genealogy website to try to track down information about my heritage, and found evidence that I qualified to be a Daughter of the American Revolution. Knowing that the official paperwork would require documentation of my ancestors, I turned to Lisa Lisson (no relation) for assistance. She helped track down the links between my Patriot ancestor and me, and helped me to submit my documents to become a Daughter of the American Revolution. Lisa also sent me wonderful detail-filled reports on different members of my family. I have built quite a collection of reprints of family history books based on the sources she found. Lisa’s reports and my book collection will be a resource for my young nephews when they get older and begin asking about where they came from. I can share stories of Puritans and farmers and witchcraft and Irish butchers and Indian raids and pioneers!”

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I have been a family history researcher for over 30 years ever since my father left me his notes on his family. Since then I have worked with a number of other researchers who have helped me find good sources as I am a stickler for documentary proof of facts.
I consider myself very fortunate to have come in contact with Lisa Lisson. She is diligent and clever about finding those small bits of data that connect people in obscure past records. Beyond that, Lisa is a joy to work with, adaptable, insightful and flexible. She takes a suggestion and works it into a plan of action adapted to my schedule and budget. Above all she is honest about what is possible and prudent in terms of cost and results. I have come to consider her a partner in my work.

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Jim S.

I have been a family history researcher for over 30 years ever since my father left me his notes on his family. Since then I have worked with a number of other researchers who have helped me find good sources as I am a stickler for documentary proof of facts. I consider myself very fortunate to have come in contact with Lisa Lisson. She is diligent and clever about finding those small bits of data that connect people in obscure past records. Beyond that, Lisa is a joy to work with, adaptable, insightful and flexible. She takes a suggestion and works it into a plan of action adapted to my schedule and budget. Above all she is honest about what is possible and prudent in terms of cost and results. I have come to consider her a partner in my work.

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Thank you for the great ideas and the incentive to get what photos we have identified. I know I have photos from that my grandmother saved that are not marked in any way and no one seems to know who they are. She didn’t share them during her lifetime, but they were found after she passed away.

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2016-09-05T15:25:58+00:00

Michelle T.

Thank you for the great ideas and the incentive to get what photos we have identified. I know I have photos from that my grandmother saved that are not marked in any way and no one seems to know who they are. She didn’t share them during her lifetime, but they were found after she passed away.

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